Yet another creative treat awaits visitors to Underwater World Singapore (UWS) this Lunar New Year! The oceanarium takes festive revelry to new heights with the launch of the Spotted Ratfish that will be enclosed within the world’s largest Zodiac Wheel of Fortune Tank. This latest interactive exhibit, in the shape of an ancient gold coin spans 3 metres in diameter.
While the 12 zodiac signs of the Chinese calendar embellish the outer edge of the gold coin, its inner rim carries 12 auspicious words such as prosperity, success, happiness and peace. In the spirit of the New Year, visitors at UWS during this bustling celebratory period can take a chance to find out what’s in store for them in the coming year. By simply inserting a $1 coin into the specially made machine, it would activate a running light that would stop at one of the auspicious words. Monies collected would be donated in full to Rainbow Centre Balestier Special School which serves children with multiple disabilities and disabilities associated with neurological conditions.
Measuring up to a metre in length, the Spotted Ratfish (Hydrolagus colliei) is a type of chimaera, considered as the missing link between cartilaginous (sharks and rays) and bony fish. Found in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, the Spotted Ratfish’s natural habitat is at the ocean floor up to 3,000 feet deep. Its diet includes crabs, clams, shrimps, worms, small fishes and sea stars. The Spotted Ratfish is identified by its distinct, pointed rat-like tail and rodent-like teeth, with speckled white dots on its body. A venomous spine is located at the front of its dorsal fin. Males have a special “clasper” on their head to facilitate mating.
Come on down to Underwater World Singapore and celebrate a prosperous new spring with the auspicious arrival of the unique Spotted Ratfish.
For a very limited time only, from 29 January to 2 March 2008.
